One-on-One with Pastor Jerry is a weekly report on family news and church and community activities, events, ministries and missions. Sign up to receive it weekly in your email inbox or click the link at NoblesvilleFirst.com to read the latest issue each week.
June 10, 2021
Book 7, Volume 8
Nancy and I returned on Monday from a wonderful two-week vacation to Yellowstone National Park. We went by car and took in several sites along the way including Door County, Wisconsin, the Badlands in South Dakota, Mount Rushmore and the Grand Tetons. I think the highlights for us were the incredible geological hot springs in Yellowstone and the many views of the Yellowstone Grand Canyon. What beautiful country! We also enjoyed the bronze statues of every U.S. President found on the street corners in downtown Rapid City, South Dakota.
We have a lot of news to share from our Family Ministry Team. We are currently renovating the spaces downstairs to consolidate our spaces to make the most of the time we have with your children when we relaunch the Sunday morning Family Ministry on August 1. New flooring has been laid in Stephenson Hall and we have set aside June 17, 18 and 19 as painting days for the Bi-Rooms before we lay new flooring in that space. If you are interested in painting even for a few hours on any of those days email Ally Hall at ahall@noblesvillefirst.com.
We have plans for a new atrium playground in order to create a great indoor play space for both the Preschool and our new Noblesville First Kids ministry on Sunday morning. We are also renovating the welcome area to make check-in run more smoothly and we are setting up a new resource wall. We have spent most of our available funds so if you can help us complete this exciting project please contact Ally or Pastor Jerry to know best how your gifts will be put to work. August will be here before we know it and we want to reopen with great new spaces.
The Family Ministry will kick off its Summer of Fun as we bring our families back together and become acquainted with Ally and Pastor Jill Moffett. We will meet in Celebration Hall for Family Worship at 9:45 am and then head out to Teter Retreat & Farm, 10980 E. 221st Street, Noblesville, for the Family Ministry Picnic that begins at 10:30AM. Ally has several games and activities planned. Bring a picnic, some blankets or chairs and sunscreen. The next event will be Sunday, June 27 as Family Ministry hosts Silly Safari with Amazon John in Celebration Hall.
Lots has been happening with the Teter Farm. We have now almost sold all 80 CSA shares and our new summer farm intern has arrived. Her name is Audrey Kaul who will be a sophomore at Indiana University Bloomington. She is an Environment and Sustainability Studies major with a minor in Studio Art. She has three younger brothers and a golden retriever. She grew up in Carmel, Indiana, and has collected many new hobbies over quarantine but she most enjoys gardening, reading, painting, drawing and cooking. She also works as a volunteer for the Audubon Society and is currently an Artist in Residence through a virtual program at Vanderbilt. She immensely enjoys her work at the Teter Organic Farm and is excited to learn and meet as many new people as she can.
This Saturday will be the farm's first presence in over a year at the Noblesville Farmers Market which runs from 8AM to Noon each Saturday. Be sure to stop by and say hi and bring home some extra vegetables. This week, the farm has hosted volunteers for Orchard Planting as we seek to provide fresh fruit to Hamilton County food pantries for many years to come. We are now driving in T posts, putting up wire, and filling in soil around trees that need a little more. It is labor intensive but if you're looking for an easier task, we also need volunteers to help with weeding. Feel free to come out and help today! There is something for everyone and no previous experience is required.
Mary Burns was able to get the Ugly Quilts ministry listed as one of the project sites for SERVE Noblesville which runs from June 23-26. The Ugly Quilts project at the church will be held on Wednesday, June 23 and Friday, June 25, 1-4PM each day. If you're signing up, look for Project #27 CRAFTS FOR A CAUSE: SLEEPING BAGS FOR THE HOMELESS. And if you're looking for other kinds of projects to volunteer for, read more at ... NoblesvilleFirst.com/ServeNoblesville
In order to make that project a success we need some supplies donated to make sleeping bags for the homeless. Items needed are men’s gloves, stocking caps (new or freshly washed), travel size deodorant, new combs, new toothbrushes, nail files or emery boards.
Monday, we will be hosting another Blood Drive from 2-6:45PM in Celebration Hall (Door 2,7). If you are a donor you have probably been getting several requests to donate. We make it very easy to sign up at NoblesvilleFirst.com/BloodDrive. The pandemic has really slowed donations, so your willingness is very much appreciated.
Friday and Saturday will be the gathering of our Indiana Annual Conference which will be completely virtual this year. I will share some highlights with you next week but for now pray for those representing Noblesville First this year which include, Pastor Jill, Pastor Matt and myself and representing the laity this year are Amber Good, Jeff Wright, Jeanne Gerbsch, Norm Williams and Don Spence. Retired pastors Mary Eileen Spence, Warren Otter, Martha Lyon and Greg Enstrom will also be attending.
At tonight's Thursday Worship at 6:30pm on Zoom, Pastor Matt Hantelman and I will launch our summer worship series on the book What is the Least I Can Believe and Still Be a Christian: A Guide to What Matters Most. If you want a place to discuss the book more in-depth this is a great opportunity to try out Thursday Worship. They will be gathering via Zoom tonight but also will sometimes gather in-person at Teter this summer.
In Family Worship this Sunday at 9:45AM in Celebration Hall, we head to Joshua 5:13-6:20 to learn how God chose Joshua as the next leader of the Israelites. Joshua’s first task was a doozy. He was leading God’s people into the promised land, including taking the giant city of Jericho. God’s plan might have seemed a bit crazy, but Joshua had confidence that God’s plan would work. Bottom Line: God’s plan is the best plan. The writers of the Bible remind us over and over that the plans we make are nothing compared to the plans God has for our life. We pray that kids will start to discover how much God loves them and wants what’s best for them.
It looks like we have some beautiful weather for Outdoor Worship this Sunday at 8:15AM at Teter Retreat & Farm. Remember we have congregational singing at Teter and masks are optional. This will be your chance to see our new orchard! Pastor Jill and I will be sharing the message as we launch the series on What is the Least I Can Believe and Still Be a Christian: A Guide to What Matters Most at this service as well as at the 9:30 and 11:00 Traditional Worship in the Sanctuary.
You will find out this Sunday that we do not worship a static God but one who continues to reveal God’s self. Pastor Jill will focus her message on the first chapter which asks if God causes cancer, car wrecks and other catastrophes. In preparation read, Matthew 9:16-17 & Galatians 3:26-28.
Share prayer requests and check out the week's opportunities to connect on the Connection Card at NoblesvilleFirst.com or on the Noblesville First mobile app. And share your pastoral needs by emailing care@noblesvillefirst.com or calling the 24/7 Care Line at 317-773-2590.
See you tonight or Sunday,
Pastor Jerry Rairdon